Chapter One
The Beginning

"Uncle? Are you ready yet?" I yelled. The Avatar had been spotted by our helmsman landing in a nearby village. We were close behind. "I don't want to lose him again."
"Alright, Prince Zuko…just let me finish my game of Pi Choi. Then we will be on our way," Uncle Iroh replied.
"I don't have time for your games, Uncle! We must go to the village before they see us like last time!" I shouted, smashing the game table in fury.
"Zuko, restrain your anger. Come-sit. Have a calming cup of Ginseng Tea," he said, gesturing to the seat beside him. "Or do you prefer Jasmine Tea?" He began pouring some tea.
My temper was coming short, but I sat down. The quicker I chugged the tea, the quicker we could leave.

"Uh-Aang, I think we should finish up here," Katara said. She was looking out at the sea with terror in her eyes.
"Katara, what's wrong? We haven't gotten all of our supplies yet," Sokka replied naïvely.
"Uh, Sokka?" As Sokka looked over, he saw her pointing into the foggy sea. The ship could be seen arriving and beginning to dock on the shore.
They paid for their goods that they had gathered and began to pack up, but their speed was of no match to that of the rhinos. Soon Zuko and his men had caught up.
"Aang! You're what their after-you need to get out of here. Sokka and I'll hold them off!" Katara shouted.
"No-I can't just leave you guys!" Aang yelled back.
"As much as I hate to agree-Katara's right. You need to get away from here. If you don't, the fire nation might win the war," Sokka argued.
Aang finally left on Appa, his flying bison. Sadly he glanced back at the sight of his friends and his foes. He knew that that might be the last he saw of them, but he knew that it was what they wanted.
"Back to the ship! I don't want to lose sight of him!" I commanded. The others did, but the water bender and her brother were making a futile attempt to block us. I couldn't help but smirk. "You think you can stop us? How pathetic…out of my way!" I ordered. They didn't move. "Did you not hear me? Out of the way!"
"Go jump in the river!" the girl shouted, "We'll never move! You can go over our dead bodies!"
"As you wish," I replied, pulling a sword. She looked at the shining blade with no worry even as the blade started to glow with the blaze of a deadly fire. The light glowed upon her face in the midnight air. Fear was not hidden for it was not there. Her brother however looked discouraged. I put the fiery blade to her neck just to where it wouldn't burn. Her eyes gazed harshly into mine. No fear was there, only anger and hate.
As I turned away to leave, I was pushed off my rhino by a powerful force. I heard the water being bended behind me. I stood and picked up my sword. The fire glowed twice as bright with the rage inside me. She took her brother's spear and held it fiercely between us. And so it began. We fought, blade to blade. We angrily struck at each other, hitting one another every now and then. I struck her across the face. I felt the spear head plow into my back. My sword struck her in the side and her blade slashed my arm. The last thing I remember was my blade stabbing her shoulder and the spear hitting my head. I fell to the ground as the world around me faded to black.

The wind whipped across his face as he gazed back into the emptiness. He wondered if they were okay. He hadn't seen the ship yet so they must've held them up someway. Still he feared their defeat-or worse…their death. Aang landed on a small island nearby and waited until dawn.
The torchlight's flooded my eyes as I opened them. I came to realization and felt the pain throbbing in my head of where the spear had hit. I saw the bandage around my stomach. As I sat up, I felt my hair ruffle across my neck. Uncle sat in a chair beside the bed half asleep.
"Uncle…?" I said weakly as his eyes opened.
"Zuko," he yawned, "You are awake. How are you feeling?"
"Uncle, how long have I been out, hours, a day-" I began. His hand touched my shoulder, leaning me back. I obeyed and laid my head on my pillow.
"Relax, Zuko. It has only been a few hours. The sun has risen and it is a brand new day," Uncle answered.
"Have we seen the Avatar? Have we-" I began, pausing when I quiet rapping on the door came to my attention. I gestured to Uncle and he opened my door.
"Sir, the prisoner is in the hold, and the Avatar has not been seen," the guard reported. He bowed politely and left.
"Prisoner? What prisoner?" I asked Uncle.
"The girl that was causing trouble earlier. The other one escaped," he answered, beckoning me to lie down. I hadn't noticed, but I had sat up again. "Calm down, try to get some sleep, Zuko."
I tried to calm down and get some sleep as Uncle had said, but no sleep would come. Just those horrible memories of my Mother and Avalar's death. Their screams echoed in my mind. And their crimson tears were all I could see.
I looked over at the tapestry on my wall of the fire of our nation. It was supposed to represent the fire that glows within us and the strength of our nation, but I've always thought that it represented the anger…the rage…and the ruthlessness of our people. The anger and rage filled me… I reached for it but when the smooth silk came within the grasp of my fingertips, I tore it as it had torn my life. Half remained on the wall, the other half fell to the ground as my heart had been torn into two separate pieces the day I was left to die…the day my heart died inside. The crimson and auburn flames that burn within my heart still burnt wildly as they had when I was a child. And yet it seemed as though they had died along with my family. But the chilling comfort of the fiery rage would always glow within. Until the blue moon came it would burn, for in that day of blue moon, his blood will be shed for theirs. I promise I will kill him.

Author's Note:
Okay, the story in the beginning about Zuko's past was made up by me and my sister, Tina (FanFic Account: MySilverWound). In case you haven't figured it out, it is Zuko POV (I hope none of you are that stupid) I am trying to keep the characters in place with their TV personality, but the "deep description" I cannot resist! When Zuko said, "As you wish" that was for a friend (yes you, Kelly) again, I couldn't resist. I had literally NO inspiration for chapter one so it really sucks on ice so…yeah… I have no layout for this Fic so…yeah…I have no clue where it is going so your guess is as good as mine what will happen next! Questions or idea? Email me (on my profile.)
Peace!
-Niobe D. Rosevelt